During a Juneteenth celebration at NTC Park in Liberty Station, San Diego, 20-year-old Jonathan Robert Shields-Pullum was fatally shot on June 17, 2023. The shooting happened around 6:45 p.m., prompting attendees to flee. Officers found Shields-Pullum with a gunshot wound to his upper body; he was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. A second 20-year-old suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg and was treated at a local hospital.

Witnesses reported a physical altercation near the event’s end, and shortly afterward someone drew a handgun and fired at both victims before fleeing. Police described the suspect as a man in his mid-20s wearing dark clothing. The motive remained unclear, with detectives investigating whether the victims had been involved in the fight, were targeted for unknown reasons, or were innocent bystanders. Shields-Pullum was remembered as charismatic and intelligent, with plans to join the Navy and study engineering like his older brother, Petty Officer 2nd-Class Elijah Pullum.

If anyone was at NTC Park that evening or has information about the altercation or the man in dark clothing, please come forward.